Rocket Girl: The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America's First Female Rocket Scientist

Gr 7 Up—Mary Sherman Morgan grew up during a time when girls could only dream of having a career in science. Growing up on a farm where education was not valued, Morgan eventually made her way to college. As time passed, she found herself in a challenging situation that caused her to leave college and find a job. It wasn't long before she was working among engineers and helping to launch rockets into space. While it seems like a dream come true for any scientist, Morgan's life was mysterious. Her playwright son manages to uncover secrets that were hidden from her family and reveals what he believes to be the truth. While the story is nonfiction, Joe Barrett's voice adds intrigue as the story unfolds. His inquisitive tone slowly discloses secrets that were buried with Morgan. Some momentum is lost because the story goes back and forth in time, which can be confusing. Details about science and combustion are necessary but will seem long-winded to those more interested in Morgan's obscure life. However, the detective work that exposes the secrets about the author's mother will hold listeners' attention.